Gays In The Military: Ask not, think not

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Why is it that when it comes to gay rights, it seems we take one step forward, and three steps back? In a New York Times op-ed (published Jan. 5 in the P-I), retired Army Gen. John Shalikashvili said that he no longer thinks the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy (a law since 1993) is needed, as he doesn't think that having homosexuals in the armed forces would damage troop morale. Several polls show that Americans -- including those serving -- think the same.

Too bad Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, didn't get the memo. "Homosexual acts between individuals are immoral," he said Monday, adding that the military also opposes heterosexual adultery. "We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior." Oh, please.Anyone who has ever lived on or near a military base can attest to the rampant extra-marital lechery that takes place, which is acceptable, we suppose, because we're talking about heterosexuals here. Pace has backtracked somewhat since, but the cat is out of the bag, and now we all know just where the top brass stand.

The foundation of the don't-ask-don't-tell law is flawed. A double standard, it mandates that in order to succeed, or just serve, in the military, gays would have to lie about who they are, while straights could be open. It also requires that the government go along with the lie. It didn't make sense in 1993, and it doesn't make sense now.